The African Democratic Congress has commenced legal proceedings against Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Justice John Tsoho and Judge Justice Peter Lifu, alleging corruption, disobedience of court orders, and manifest bias in connection with a pending suit challenging the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the party, while simultaneously petitioning the National Judicial Council to investigate the conduct of both judges.
The suit, filed on June 4 by ADC National Welfare Secretary Nkemakolam Ukandu at the Federal High Court in Abuja, named the National Judicial Council, Justice Tsoho, and Justice Lifu as defendants. Ukandu alleged that Justice Tsoho had reassigned Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, brought by Nafiu Bala Gombe against the Mark-led party leadership, to Justice Lifu in disregard of a Supreme Court order dated April 30, 2026, which had directed the matter back to Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja division for continuation of hearing.
He said that upon the resumption of proceedings before Justice Nwite, one party’s counsel sought a reassignment, all other counsel opposed the application, and Justice Nwite adjourned the matter pending service of documents. Without complying with those directives, Ukandu alleged, Justice Tsoho reassigned the matter to Justice Lifu, who proceeded to fix it for hearing on June 3, 2026, without serving hearing notice on the ADC’s counsel.
Ukandu cited a public commentary by law professor Chidi Odinkalu, published in The Guardian newspaper, which alleged that Justice Tsoho had been assigning political cases involving FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s interests to Justice Lifu for hearing and determination. He also alleged that Justice Lifu had visited the president to request a property in Abuja, in alleged violation of the code of conduct for judicial officers.
Among the reliefs sought are a court order directing the NJC to investigate the allegations of corruption, abuse of judicial powers, disobedience to court orders, and manifest bias, and an injunction restraining Justice Lifu from continuing to preside over the underlying matter pending determination of the petition.
